Snow removal and vacuum sweeper with slurry disposal

ABSTRACT

A fluid containing insulated reservoir or tank is mounted on a vehicle chassis having an engine thereon, a hydraulic pressure means and a control cab. A roadway cleaning apparatus, comprising a forwardly open horizontally disposed substantially cylindrical screw conveyor surrounding housing, is pivotally mounted transversely of the forward end portion of the vehicle chassis for vertical pivoting movement about a horizontal axis. A discharge tube connects the central portion of the conveyor housing to the tank. Heat transfer means supported by the chassis extends into the tank for heating contained slurry and melting snow. An agitator within the tank forms a slurry of the materials contained by the tank.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,766,586 Krickovich 1 Oct. 23, 1973 [54]SNOW REMOVAL AND VACUUM SWEEPER 3,304,632 2/1967 Kotlar et al 37/12 WITHSLURRY DISPOSAL 3,305,949 2/1967 Holley 37/24 I 3,309,798 3/1967 Devlinet al. 37/12 Inventor: Eli Krickovich, e 3,321,851 5/1967 Fisher 37/25Witt, Iowa 52742 3,382,603 5/1968 Oberto 37/12 UX Filed Mar 1 19723,464,128 -9/l969 Krickovich 37/12 [21] Appl. No.: 231,292 PrimaryExaminer-Edward L. Roberts Related U.S.. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT[63] fgf gzgggsgg f ssgk izhigfi 2,1 Z P E A fluid containing insulatedreservoir or tank is 8 i [581124 1971 almndonep mounted on a vehiclechassis having an engine thereon, a hydraulic pressure means and acontrol [52] US. Cl. 15/83, 15/340 37/12 A rmidway cleaning PP Cmprisinga for- 37/24 57/43 wardly open horizontally disposed substantiallycylin- 51 Int. Cl E0lh 1/04 E 0lh'6/00 screw sumunding musing, is P [58]Field of Search .l/828 6 ,'1 any mounted transvfrsely of h end Portion 1L 340; 37/24 25 43 D 43 E, 1244 of the vehlcle chass1s for vertlcalplvotmg movement about a horizontal axis. A discharge tube connects the[56], References Cited central portion of the conveyor housing to thetank. Heat transfer means supported by the chassis extends UNITED STATESPATENTS into the tank for heating contained slurry and melting {s gsnow. .An agitator within the tank forms a slurry of the us 2,893,377 71959 .Ianousek.. 37/43 E x mater'als cm'mmed by the tank 3,213,552 /1965Vanvick 37/43 E 7 Qlaims, 21 Drawing Figures 59 I09 l l I:

56 92 I74 3 1| g t 1 l 1* r J18 1.6 104 18 r PATENTEUDBT 23 I975 SHEET 3BF 6 FIG.4

III] Hll HlPlto L IHJ Ill-111111111111 1111 SNOW REMOVAL AND VACUUMSWEEPER WITH SLURRY DISPOSAL CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thepresent invention is a continuation-in-part of two applications filed byme in the United States Patent Office on: Sept. 8, 1970, Ser. No. 70,335and Feb. 24, 1971, Ser. No. 118,228, for Snow Remover And Sweeper WithSlurry Disposal, both now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to snowplows and more particularly to a snow removingand disposal apparatus which may also be used as a sweeper and vacuumcleaner for streets, roadways, walks, runways or the like.

In the removal of snow from steets and roadways as a result of snowstorms it is present practice, generally, to employ a snowplow or insome instances graders which move the snow off the street into piles orrows which later must be picked up by a loader and disposed of by dumptrucks. This type of operation is time consuming and expensive in manhours and necessary equipment and, furthermore, it is a comparativelyslow process of snow removal.

Furthermore, such apparatus represents a considerable monetaryinvestment and the snowplow normally remains idle or unused during thewarm months of the year when other types of equipment, such as streetsweepers, are normally used for cleaning dirt, trash,

etc. off streets and roadways.

It is desirable from an environmental viewpoint to provide an apparatusfor removing and melting snow and for cleaning up and disposing of dust,dirt, leaves or papers and other items commonly known as trash byimmersion and mixing with water requiring little or no heating foreither operation.

Conventional street sweepers have a relatively small storage capacityand, therefore, similarly require the service of pickup and disposalunits.

a This invention simplifies the above steps of removing and disposing ofsnow by providing a single mobile machine which picks up the snow andmelts it in a relatively large 35 dump truck load capacity insulatedtank which is periodically drained into a storm'sewer, or the like, thuseliminating the use of a loader and dump trucks as well as saving timeand wear of such equip- US. Pat. Nos. 3,304,632 and 3,393,462 disclosevehicle mounted conveyor pickup type apparatus for snow removal anddisposal.

The most pertinent prior patent is my US. Pat. No. 3,464,128 whichdiscloses a screw conveyor snowplow communicating with a snowreceivingtank heated by burner means and including rotating agitators for mixingsnow and water contained by the tank.

The principal distinction of this invention over my prior patent is thatthis screw conveyor comprises opposite cooperating screw conveyors formoving snow toward impeller blades aligned with a discharge tubeconnected, at one end, medially the length of the conveyors andcommunicating, at its other end, with a relatively large snow and refusereceiving tank disposed rearwardly of the conveyors. Further, theconveyor screws, disposed partially within and supported by a housing,are capable of being equipped with brushes for converting this apparatusto a cleaner or sweeper.

This invention is distinctive over my copending applications byincluding a vacuum means for more efficient roadway surface cleaning andmodifying other components for improved results.

Heat transfer means, including a helical coil is placed within the snowand trash receiving tank, which liquifies snow received by the tankand/or raises the temperature of a slurry formed of other tank containedmaterials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An insulated relatively large capacity tank issupported by a truck chassis rearwardly of an engine and control cab. Aroadway cleaning apparatus, including longitudinally aligned oppositelydisposed screw conveyors connected with impeller blades and supported bya cylindrical housing; is transversely mounted across the lower frontend portion of the truck chassis for vertical pivoting movement towardand away from the surface of the earth. The housing is provided with adischarge tube extending upwardly and rearwardly toward the tank top.The impeller blades and the blades of the screw conveyors are providedwith removable brush segments for cleaning roadway surfaces. A vacummpump, mounted on the chassis, is connected by flexible tubing with thetank and suction nozzles mounted rearwardly of the sweeping brushcontaining housings. A heat transfer means supported by the truckchassis includes an antifreeze fluid containing coil extending into thetank in spaced relation with respect to its inner wall surface. Agitatorblades within the tank churns snow and water contained by the tank andmixes dirt and debris with water contained by the tank to form a slurrywhen the apparatus is used as a sweeper. Most of the water and/or slurryis periodically drained from the tank by a drain valve located withinthe tank. The tank includes a sump portion similarly having a drainvalve therein for draining the sump when the apparatus is idle.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a snow removing andmelting apparatus mounted on a vehicle chassis which also may be used asa roadway sweeper and vacuum cleaner for streets or the like.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view, to a larger scale, takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 of anotherembodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a top view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, to an enlargedscale, taken substantially along the line 11-11 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of thedrain connector;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view illustrating a sweeping and vacuumingembodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a top view of FIG. 13',

FIG. 15 is a front view of FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially in section, takensubstantially along the line 16-16 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 17-17 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating themanner of connecting brushes to the conveyor;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takensubstantially along the line 19-19 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of the con veyor housingsupported brush shield; and,

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the manner ofconnecting brushes to the respective end portions of the thrower blades.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like characters of referencedesignate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which theyoccur.

In the drawings: 7

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 7, the reference numeral 10indicates a substantially conventional truck chassis having an engine12, a hydraulic pump and other conventional controls, not shown, and acontrol cab 14, mounted on and supported by the forward end portion oflongitudinally extending vehicle frame members 16, in turn supported bywheels 18. Conveyor means 20 is mounted on the forward end of thechassis and connected with tank means 22, mounted on the chassisrearwardly of the cab, by tube means 24. The conveyor means 20 comprisesa substantially cylindrical horizontal housing 26 having end closingmembers 28 and 29 (FIG. 3) and having a portion of its forwardly anddownward arcuate wall removed to form a snow and trash admitting opening30. A shaft 32 extends horizontally between and beyond the ends 28 and29 and is journalled at its respective end portions by the respectiveend portion of a pairof arms 34. The other end portions of the arms 34are respectively pivotally connected to the respective outwardlydisposed end portion of a pair of horizontally aligned support shafts 36and 37 transversely supported by the chassis so that the housing 26 maybe vertically pivoted about the horizontal axis of the shafts 36 and 37as presently explained.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 38 are connected, respectively, to a pairof parallel braces 40 which project forwardly and upwardly in'rearwardspaced relation with respect to the housing 26. The piston end of thecylinders 38 are respectively pivotally connected to a pair ofspaced-apart ears 42 cooperatively secured to the upper surfaces of thehousing 26 for raising and lowering the housing. Valve and tubing means,not shown, connected with the hydraulic system of the truck and thecylinders 38, are actuated by the operator in the control cab 14 foroperating the cylinders 38 and raising and lowering the conveyor means20. Oppositely acting screw conveyors 44, secured to the shaft 32, areeach connected with impeller blades 46 radially connected to the shaft32 medially the length of the housing. A shoe 48 extends longitudinallyof the housing 26 and is connected to the lower limit of the housingwall by bolts 50. The shoe 48 is transversely curved on a radiuscomplemental with the curvature of the wall 26 of the housing for thepurposes of increasing the cylindrical wall area of the housing aroundthe conveyors 44 when the conveyor means 20 is employed for removingsnow. A plurality of forwardly extending sled-like runners 52 aretransversely secured, in spaced relation, to the lower limit of thehousing 26 for engaging the roadway or surface of the earth, indicatedby the line 54, to prevent damaging the housing or shoe 48.

The tube means 24 comprises a lower tubular section 56 connected withthe housing 26 around an opening 58 (FIG. 7) therein. The upwardlydirected end portion of the lower tube 56 is telescopically received bythe lower end portion of an inclined intermediate tube 59 which is inturn telescopically received by its upper end portion within the lowerend portion of an inclined upper tube 60 which is pivotally connected,adjacent its upwardly disposed end, by a hinge 62 to the upper forwardedge surface of the tank means 22 within a recess 63 formed therein.Flexible tubing 64 connects the upper end portion of the uppertube 60 toan elbow-like tube 66 communicating with the interior of the tank means22.

The housing supporting shaft 37 forms a drive shaft for rotating theconveyors 44. The shaft 37 is drivably connected, at one end, by gears68 to the engine 12 and is conventionally connected, at its other end,to one end of the conveyor shaft 32 such as by belt and pulley means,indicated by the dotted lines 70 (FIG. 1), and shielded by a guard 72.Obviously chain and sprocket means may be used in place of the belt andpulley means, if desired. Alternatively, a hydraulic motor 73 (FIGS. 8and 9), supported by the arms 34 and connected with the conveyor shaft32, may be used as a conveyor drive.

The tank means 22 includes a substantially rectangular tank 74 having abottom wall characterized by a rearward horizontal surface 76 mergingwith the remainder of the bottom surface which is inclined downwardly orslopes toward the central left side of the vehicle and tank means, asviewed from the front, forming a sump 77 (FIG. 6). Thebottom wall isjoined to a top wall 78 by opposing side walls 80 and forward andrearward end walls 82 and 84, respectively. The tank 74 is surrounded,in spaced relation, by a plurality of bottom, top, side and end wallpanels 86 (FIGS. 1 and 2) secured to stud-like supports 88 extendingacross the respective bottom, top, side and end walls of the tank 74 toform a double walled tank having a space between the outer limits of thetank 74 and inner wall surfaces of the wall panels 86 which ispreferably filled with heat and cold insulating material 90. A drainpipe or hose 92 extends through the rear wall 84 of the tank and isconnected with a conventional drain valve 94, which may be a ball valveor wedge disk valve, for draining fluid out of the tank down to thelevel of the horizontal bottom portion 76. The drain opening of thevalve 94, preferably positioned slightly above the inner surface of thetank bottom, insures that a sufficient quantity of water remains in thetank for dissolving snow added thereto when again placed in operationfor dissolving such snoiv and preventing a piling up of the snow withinthe tank. The valve 94 may be manually opened by a control wheel 95disposed rearwardly of the tank means 22 and connected with the valve 94by vertical control rods 96 and 97 operated through right angle gears 98and 100 mounted on the top of the tank means by a shaft 101.Alternatively, a reversible hydraulic motor 99, controlled from the cab14, may be connected with the valve shaft 97 for opening and closihg'the valve 94 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 13). The sump 77 has a drain valve 102therein connected with a drain tube section 103 terminating inwardly ofthe tank means outer wall to prevent freezing. Access to the control ofthe sump valve 102 and drain tube 103 is gained through an access door104 (FIGS. 1 and 6) formed in an overlying outer wall panel of the tankmeans. A vent opening 105 (FIG. 11) is formed in the top of the tank anda manhole 106 (FIG. 4), similarly formed in the top of the tank, isclosed by a lid or cover 107.

A heater I-I, mounted on the truck chassis forwardly of the tank means22, is connected with piping 108 which extends into the tank 74 alongits walls, in spaced relation with respect to its inner wall surface, ina helical fashion for approximately one-half the vertical height of thetank. The other end portion 109 of the piping extends through theforward wall 82 of the tank and is connected with the heater. The pipingis filled with a liquid, not shown, preferably containing an antifreezesolution. The purpose of the heater is to thermally circulate theliquid, however, the heater may be provided with a hydraulic motordriven pump P (FIGS. 4 and 5), for increasing the liquid flow ratethrough the piping. The piping is supported in itshelically woundfashion by standards 110 connected with the inner surface of theopposing. walls 80 of the tank and including U-shaped bolts 111 securedto the standards and loosely surrounding a peripheral portion ofsuccessive runs of the piping. The piping is preferably provided withunions, not shown, for ease in assembly and for servicing or replacingthe piping.

Agitator means 1 12 is mounted within the tank 74 for mixing fluid 113(FIG. 4) with other material, not shown, deposited in the tank. Theagitator means comprises four vertical radially spaced blades 114 eachtwisted 180 and extending from near the tank bottom to near the tank topand are secured by arms 115 to a shaft 1 16 in turn secured to the topand bottom wall of the tank-by bearings 118. The upper end of the shaft116 projects through the top wall of the tank and is drivably connectedto a hydraulic motor 120 operated by the truck hydraulic system forrotating the agitator means. The agitator means 112 is shown centrallydisposed within the tank but may be disposed adjacent one of the tankside walls 80, if desired.

When the apparatus is used as a snowplow wherein snow drifts ofconsiderable depth are encountered, a deflector or guide means 122 isconnected with the walls 28 and 29. When the apparatus is movedforwardly the guide means 122 thus deflects drifted snow downwardly andrearwardly toward the housing opening 30.

The snow pickup area of the conveyor portion 20 may be increasedlaterally by a pair of wing panels 129 connected with the opposite ends28 and 29 of the conveyor. Each of the panels 129 comprise an angle ironreinforced rectangular plate 130 removably connected pivotally at oneend by pins extending through cooperating apertured lugs secured,respectively, to the respective wing panel 129 and conveyor ends 28 and29 in vertically aligned relation. The wings 129 are held in a desiredangular position by braces 131 connected at one end with the respectivewing 129 intermediate its length and height, and connected, at theirother ends, to the rearward limit of the arms 34.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, a modification of theapparatus is illustrated for throwing snow laterally of the vehiclerather than depositing it in the tank means 22. This is accomplished byremoving the depending tubular section 59 and replacing it with anelongated arcuately curved tube 137 having one end connected to thehousing tube portion 56 and its other end portion supported near theupper lateral limit of the tank means by a clamp 132, or the like, sothat conveyor housing 26. The guide means 122 comprises a sheet metalpanel 124 (FIG. 7) which longitudinally contacts the upper surface ofthe housing wall and is inclined upwardly and forwardly therefrom beingreinforced by beads or ribs 126. The respective ends of the panel 124are connected by substantially triangular shaped end members 128 to therespective housing end snow collected by the conveyors is discharged bythe thrower blades 46 through the open end of the elongated tube 137 tothe left of the apparatus, as viewed in FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 21, a fragmentary end portion of theconveyor shaft and one conveyor 44 is illustrated in FIG. 18, fordepicting the manner of converting the conveyor means 20 to a brushingor sweeping action. This is accomplished by forming a plurality ofspaced-apart slots 133 adjacent the free edge surface of the flange 134forming the screw conveyor. A plurality of brush segments 135, eachhaving a base portion 136 are provided with a pair of bolts and nuts 138for respectively entering pairs of the slots 133. The bolts 138 securethe respective brush segment to the conveyor flange 134, in end to endabutted relation with respect to other adjacent brush segments, so thatthe brush fibers 139 project beyond the cylindrical plane described bythe conveyor flange 134 wherein the elongated slots 133 permitadjustment of the respective brush segment tocompensate for wear of thefibers.

FIG. 21 illustrates a fragment of one of the thrower blades 46 whereinone or more brush segments 140 are secured to the ends of the throwerblades by bolts, or

the like, in a substantially identical manner to that disclosed for theconveyor flanges 134. It should be noted, however, that the brushsegments 140 are secured to the surface of the respective thrower blade46 opposite its material contacting surface with the bristles or fibersof the brush segments turned to extend beyond the end of the throwerblade 46 and curved arcuately toward the plane of the blade opposite thebrush segment connected surface, as at 141, so that the thrower blades46 will sweep that portion of the roadway surface disposed betweenadjacent ends of the conveyors within the housing 26.

A brush shield 142 (FIG. 20) is supported by the inner surface of theconveyor housing 26 for reducing the area of the housing opening 30during a roadway sweeping action. The shield 142 comprises an elongatedplate coextensive with the inner surface of the housing 26 andsubstantially semicircular in transverse section. Flanges 144 at therespective ends of the shield receive bolts, not shown, for connectingthe shield to the housing plates 28 and 29 and disposing its forwardedge 146 downwardly, as shown, in FIGS. and 17. The shield is providedwith a slot 148 medially its ends for accommodating the discharge tube56.

When the apparatus is used as a sweeper having the brush segments 135attached to the conveyors 44, the shoe 48 is removed so that the brushfibers may contact the street or roadway surface 54 during the sweepingaction. Obviously the housing 26 must be lowered by actuating thehydraulic cylinders 38 so that the brush fibers 139 will contact theroadway surface.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the span of the sweeping action may beincreased by horizontally connecting a pair of sweep conveyors 150 and152 to the respective ends of the conveyor means in substantialalignment with the forward limit of the conveyors 44. Since the sweepconveyors 150 and 152 are substantially identical, only the sweepconveyor 150 will be described in detail. The sweep conveyor 150comprises a horizontally disposed cylindrical-like housing 154 ofselected diameter, for example eight inches, and longitudinallysubstantially equal to one-half the length of the conveyor housing 26and having a downwardly directed opening 156 (FIG. 19). A hydraulicmotor-.l58 is coaxially connected to one end of the housing 154. Theother end portion of the housing 154 is pivotally connected to a finger160 secured to and projecting laterally outward and forwardly of theconveyor housing 26 permitting the screw conveyor 150 to be horizontallypivoted about its connection with the finger 160 for positioning thelatter forwardly of the conveyor means 20 when the apparatus is moveddown a roadway and is not being used in a sweeping action. The hydraulicmotor 158 is drivably connected coaxially with the shaft of a fiberbrush equipped screw conveyor 162. The other end of the conveyor 162 isjournalled by an end plate 164 at the opposite end of the housing 154.The hydraulic motor 158 is connected with the vehicle hydraulic systemby hydraulic tubing, neither of which are shown, and controlled by theoperator within the control cab 14. An elongated brace 166 is connectedat one end with the rearward end portion of the arms 34 and isconnected, at its other end, in supporting relation with the hydraulicmotor 158.

To enhance the roadway sweeping function and clean the swept surfaces ofsand, dirt, and small objects not picked up by the brush equippedconveyors a vacuum pickup means is provided which also serves to collectand dispose a substantial portion of dust generated during the brushsweeping action. The vacuum sweeping means comprises a blower 170 drivenby the vehicle engine or a hydraulic motor, not shown.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 16, the blower 170 has an inlet opening172 connected by tubing 174, 176 and 178 with suction nozzles 180, 182and 184 disposed rearwardly of and supported by the conveyor housing 26and sweep conveyors 150 and 152, respectively. The suction nozzles 180,182 and 184 are relatively narrow when compared with their length havingend and side walls 186 terminating downwardly in a horizontal planesubstantially defining the depending limit of the conveyor housing 26and sweep conveyor hosuings 154, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 19. Alength of flexible fabric material, such as canvas 188, or the like,coextensive with respect to the nozzle walls 186, respectively, issecured to the respective nozzle wall in depending relation and contactsthe surface of the earth or roadway 54. The outlet tube 190 of theblower is connected by an elongated tube 192 to a dirt and dust inletnipple or pipe 194 communicating with the top of the tank means 22laterally of the discharge tube means 24. When the blower orvacuum'sweeper 170 is not being used the nozzles 180, 182 and 184 andtheir connecting tubing is usually removed together with the dust anddirt discharge tube 192 and the dirt receiving pipe 194 is covered by acap 196.

When using the sweeping and vacuum cleaning apparatus the tank vent isprovided with a flanged end vent pipe 200. A vent cap 202 is secured tothe upwardly disposed end of the vent pipe. A suitable 204, having oneor more screens 208, is removably supported by the tank vent pipe by aflanged edge 206 overlying the upper flanged end of the vent pipe 200downwardly of the cap 202.

FIG. 12 illustrates an end portion of a drain tube extension 210 havinga flange 212, at one end, provided with wing nuts and bolts 214cooperatingly received by slots formed in flanged end portions of thetank drain tubes 92 and 103.

OPERATION In operation, for removing snow, the shoe 48 is in place onthe housing 26 and the deflector 122 and wing panels 129 are attached,if desired. The apparatus is moved forwardly by the engine 12 drivingthe wheels 18 and rotating the conveyors 44, in the direction of thearrow (FIGS. 1 and 7), by the drive means described hereinabove. Thedual bladed screw conveyors 44 move quantities of snow toward thecentral portion of the housing by their rapid angular velocity whereinthe impeller blades 46, communicating with the lower tubular portion 56,forces the snow in a throwing action, upwardly through the tubes 59 and60 into the tank. Before starting the cleaning action a desired quantityof the water 113 is placed in the tank 74. The heater H is similarly inoperation circulating heated fluid by thermal action or the pump Pthrough the piping coils which melts snow received by the tank with thesnow mixing and melting action enhanced by the agitator means 112. Theagitator 112 achieves a mixing and melting of the snow with vary littleor no heat and at a temperature at or near 32F. as a result of thechurning action. Further, since no chemicals are used in the tank streampolution is eliminated. The level of water accumulating in the tank ispreferably visually indicated, by a fluid level indicator, not shown, inthe control cab so that the operator may periodically drain the tank byopening the valve means 94.

In removing snow piled near aircraft runways, aircraft hangers or roads,one of the valves 94 or 102 may be partially opened to drain off wateraccumulating in the tank while the row or pile of snow is being pickedup and melted. Obviously the drain hose 210 must be arranged to directthe released water laterally off the traffic area.

During the warm season of the year the brush segments and are connectedwith the conveyor flanges 134 and thrower blades 46, as describedhereinabove, and the housing shoe 48 is removed so that the brushequipped conveyors 44 may act as a sweeper for cleaning soil or debrisoff the street or roadway which is similarly thrown upwardly through thetube means 24 and into the tank.

When using the apparatus as a surface sweeper, the sweep conveyors 150and 152 may be connected therewith, if desired, to sweep a transversearea of substantial dimension. During such sweeping action, the sweepconveyors 150 and 152 are in operation, and move dirt, or the like,toward the respective end portion of the conveyor means 20 where it ispicked up by the brush equipped screw conveyors 44, as describedhereinabove. During the sweeping action the blower 170 is preferably inoperation to generate a suction or vacuum sweeping action through thenozzles 180, 182 and 184 to pick up dust, dirt and the like not pickedup by the brushes.

When used as a sweeper the tank 74 is preferably partially filled with aquantity of the water 113 so that material swept up and deposited in thetank by the sweeping and vacuum action will be churned or mixed by theagitator 112 to form a slurry which is similarly drained off through thevalve means 94 and 102 at selected intervals.

. During the sweeping and vacuuming action, as-described hereinabove,the filter 204 prevents dust, and the like being exhausted to theatmosphere, thus, it may be seen that this apparatus, when used as asnow remover or a surface sweeper, does not pollute the atmosphere.Similarly the use of hydraulic motors for driving various components, asdescribed hereinabove, reduces the noise of operation of the apparatusto a minimum.

When it is desired to move the apparatus along a highway, or the like,when the snow or debris pickup portion is not being used, the braces 166are disconnected fromtheir supporting relation with respect to thehydraulic motors 158 and the screw conveyors 150 and 152 are pivotedabout their connection with the finger 160 to be horizontally positionedforwardly of the conveyor means 20. The hydraulic cylinders 38 areactuated to lift the conveyor means 20 and screw conveyors 150 and 152upwardly above the surface of the earth.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations withoutdefeating its practicability, thereof,

I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in thedrawings and described herein.

I claim:

1. A roadway cleaning apparatus in combination with a prime movercomprising a vehicle chassis having an engine control means thereonincluding a control cab and having a hydraulic fluid pump, theimprovement comprising:

conveyor means transversely connected to the forward end of saidchassis,

said conveyor means including a substantially cylindrical housingdisposed'horizontally adjacent the surfaceof the earth,

said housing having closed ends and having a coextensive downwardly andforwardly directed openmg,

said housing having a rearward and upwardly directed discharge openingmedially its ends,

.a pair of cooperating coaxially aligned screw conveyors extendingbetween and journalled by said housing ends, and impeller bladesinterposed between and connected, respectively, with adjacent ends ofsaid screw conveyors medially the ends of said housing, the length ofeach said impeller blade being equal with the radius of said screwconveyors,

said screw conveyors being characterized by a helical edge portiongenerating a cylindrical plane coinciding with a circular planegenerated by the outwardly directed limit of said thrower blades as theconveyors are rotated about their axis,

said helical edge portions and said impeller blades having a series ofspaced-apart slots transversely formed therein adjacent their outeredge;

a plurality of brush segments each having a rectangular base portion andbristles secured thereto;

means extending through the slots and securing said brush segments, inbase end to end abutting relation to the respective said screw conveyorand impeller blade outer edge portions;

drive means for rotating said screw conveyors;

belt and pulley drive means extending between and respectively connectedwith said prime mover and one end portion of one said screw conveyor;

a rectangular fluid containing closed tank having a material receivingopening in its top wall and having inner and outer spaced-apart wallshaving heat and cold insulation therebetween mounted on said vehiclechassis rearwardly of and projecting above the horizontal plane definingthe upper limit of said control cab;

a pair of shafts transversely journalled in coaxial aligned relation bythe forward end portion of said chassis;

a pair of arms pivotally connected at one end portion, respectively, tothe respective outwardly disposed end portion of the respective saidshaft, the other end portion of said arms being pivotally connected,respectively, with opposing end portions of said housing;

a pair of braces projecting forwardly of said tank in laterally spacedrelation above said housing;

a pair of pressure operated cylinders extending between and connected,respectively, with the forward end portion of said braces and opposingend portions of said housing for vertical pivoting movement of saidhousing about the horizontal axis of said shafts;

a discharge tube connected, at one end, with said housing around itsdischarge opening and extending rearwardly and upward, at its other end,and connected with said tank top wall around the receiving opening;

a heater mounted on said chassis;

piping connected with said heater and extending, intermediate its endsinto said tank and being helically wound, adjacent the inner peripheryof said tank; and,

an antifreeze liquid filling said heater and said tubing.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: an agitatorwithin said tank,

said agitator comprising a shaft extending vertically between andjournalled, respectively, by the top and bottom walls of said tank, aplurality of vertically disposed blades connected with said shaft inradially spaced-apart relation, each said blade being twisted about itslongitudinal axis substantially and a hydraulic motor operativelyconnected with said shaft for rotating the latter about its verticalaxis.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 and further including:

means including drain valves and drain tubing for draining said tank.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and further including:

a pair of earth surface engaging sweep screw conveyors respectivelyconnected at one end to the forward limit of the respective end portionof said housing in cooperating laterally extending horizontally alignedrelation;

a cylindrical jacket substantially surrounding said respective sweepscrew conveyor;

hydraulic motor means mounted on each said cylindrical jacket anddrivably connected with one end portion of the respective said sweepscrew conveyor; and

brace means extending between and connected with said chassis and theoutermost end portion of each said cylindrical jacket for horizontallysupporting the latter.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said drain valves anddrain tubing means includes:

a drain valve disposed within said tank;

a drain tube communicating with said drain valve and projectingoutwardly through one wall of said tank; and,

a control rod extending into said tank and connected with said drainvalve for opening and closing said drain valve.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said housing furtherincludes:

an elongated liner wall substantially semicircular, in transverse crosssection, underlying the upwardly disposed portion of said housing andbeing movable forwardly and downwardly for decreasing the transversedimension of the housing downwardly and forward opening.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bristles on theimpeller mounted brush segments are curved to extend in the direction ofrotation of said impeller blades a distance substantially equal to thethickness of each said impeller blade.

1. A roadway cleaning apparatus in combination with a prime movercomprising a vehicle chassis having an engine control means thereonincluding a control cab and having a hydraulic fluid pump, theimprovement comprising: conveyor means transversely connected to theforward end of said chassis, said conveyor means including asubstantially cylindrical housing disposed horizontally adjacent thesurface of the earth, said housing having closed ends and having acoextensive downwardly and forwardly directed opening, said housinghaving a rearward and upwardly directed discharge opening medially itsends, a pair of cooperating coaxially aligned screw conveyors extendingbetween and journalled by said housing ends, and impeller bladesinterposed between and connected, respectively, with adjacent ends ofsaid screw conveyors medially the ends of said housing, the length ofeach said impeller blade being equal with the radius of said screwconveyors, said screw conveyors being characterized by a helical edgeportion generating a cylindrical plane coinciding with a circular planegenerated by the outwardly diRected limit of said thrower blades as theconveyors are rotated about their axis, said helical edge portions andsaid impeller blades having a series of spaced-apart slots transverselyformed therein adjacent their outer edge; a plurality of brush segmentseach having a rectangular base portion and bristles secured thereto;means extending through the slots and securing said brush segments, inbase end to end abutting relation to the respective said screw conveyorand impeller blade outer edge portions; drive means for rotating saidscrew conveyors; belt and pulley drive means extending between andrespectively connected with said prime mover and one end portion of onesaid screw conveyor; a rectangular fluid containing closed tank having amaterial receiving opening in its top wall and having inner and outerspaced-apart walls having heat and cold insulation therebetween mountedon said vehicle chassis rearwardly of and projecting above thehorizontal plane defining the upper limit of said control cab; a pair ofshafts transversely journalled in coaxial aligned relation by theforward end portion of said chassis; a pair of arms pivotally connectedat one end portion, respectively, to the respective outwardly disposedend portion of the respective said shaft, the other end portion of saidarms being pivotally connected, respectively, with opposing end portionsof said housing; a pair of braces projecting forwardly of said tank inlaterally spaced relation above said housing; a pair of pressureoperated cylinders extending between and connected, respectively, withthe forward end portion of said braces and opposing end portions of saidhousing for vertical pivoting movement of said housing about thehorizontal axis of said shafts; a discharge tube connected, at one end,with said housing around its discharge opening and extending rearwardlyand upward, at its other end, and connected with said tank top wallaround the receiving opening; a heater mounted on said chassis; pipingconnected with said heater and extending, intermediate its ends intosaid tank and being helically wound, adjacent the inner periphery ofsaid tank; and, an antifreeze liquid filling said heater and saidtubing.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 and further including: anagitator within said tank, said agitator comprising a shaft extendingvertically between and journalled, respectively, by the top and bottomwalls of said tank, a plurality of vertically disposed blades connectedwith said shaft in radially spaced-apart relation, each said blade beingtwisted about its longitudinal axis substantially 180* , and a hydraulicmotor operatively connected with said shaft for rotating the latterabout its vertical axis.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 andfurther including: means including drain valves and drain tubing fordraining said tank.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 and furtherincluding: a pair of earth surface engaging sweep screw conveyorsrespectively connected at one end to the forward limit of the respectiveend portion of said housing in cooperating laterally extendinghorizontally aligned relation; a cylindrical jacket substantiallysurrounding said respective sweep screw conveyor; hydraulic motor meansmounted on each said cylindrical jacket and drivably connected with oneend portion of the respective said sweep screw conveyor; and brace meansextending between and connected with said chassis and the outermost endportion of each said cylindrical jacket for horizontally supporting thelatter.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 3 in which said drain valvesand drain tubing means includes: a drain valve disposed within saidtank; a drain tube communicating with said drain valve and projectingoutwardly through one wall of said tank; and, a control rod extendinginto said tank and connected with said drain valve for openinG andclosing said drain valve.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1 in whichsaid housing further includes: an elongated liner wall substantiallysemicircular, in transverse cross section, underlying the upwardlydisposed portion of said housing and being movable forwardly anddownwardly for decreasing the transverse dimension of the housingdownwardly and forward opening.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 inwhich the bristles on the impeller mounted brush segments are curved toextend in the direction of rotation of said impeller blades a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of each said impeller blade.